In the present study, we compare a classical slow freezing method and an aseptic vitrification technique to cryopreserve a stable Primordial Gem Cells (PGCs) line issued from the Ardennaise chicken breed ... [more ▼]

In the present study, we compare a classical slow freezing method and an aseptic vitrification technique to cryopreserve a stable Primordial Gem Cells (PGCs) line issued from the Ardennaise chicken breed. Viability immediately after warming was close to 80% and did not differ between the two cryopreservation methods. Proliferation tended to be slower for both cryopreservation methods compared to controls, but the difference was significant only for vitrification. No difference was found between the two methods after flow cytometry analysis of SSEA-1 expression and RT-PCR on several factors related to PGCs phenotype. After one week in culture, all cryopreserved cells reached controls main morphological and expanding (viability/proliferation) features. However, slow freezing generated more unwanted cells clusters than vitrification. After injection of the PGCs into recipient embryos, vitrified PGCs showed a clear, yet not significant, tendency to colonize the gonad at a higher rate than slow frozen PGCs. Slow freezing in cryovials remains simple, inexpensive and less technically demanding than vitrification. Nevertheless, the intrinsic advantages of our aseptic vitrification method and the present study suggest that this should be considered as safer than classical slow freezing for cryopreserving chicken PGCs. [less ▲]

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursor of gametes and appear during early stages of embryonic development. Under appropriate culture conditions, these cells can keep their germ cells properties ... [more ▼]

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) are precursor of gametes and appear during early stages of embryonic development. Under appropriate culture conditions, these cells can keep their germ cells properties in vitro and are foreseen as promising tools for developing efficient avian genetic engineering and preservation of germplasm. We propose original methods that allow long term expansion, efficient cryopreservation and genetic modification of primary cultures of undifferentiated PGCs. PGCs are collected from embryonic blood during their migratory period and grown in cell-culture insert in the presence of feeder cells (BRL). This physically separated co-culture system along with selective culture medium promoted emergence, selection and proliferation of PGCs lines. Forty percent of blood samples gave rise to lines originating from three commercial layer and two Belgian endangered breeds. PGCs lines were characterized for the expression of the stem cells and PGCs marker SSEA-1 by FACS. RT-PCR confirmed expression of germ-line specific markers (CVH, CDH, DAZL), pluripotency markers (cPouV, cSox2, cNanog), telomerase and CXCR4 receptor. All lines were male although isolated from pooled male and female blood samples. Two cryopreservation methods were developed based upon slow-freezing and aseptic vitrification. Both have shown a similar effectiveness in allowing storage without phenotype drift. Stably expressing lines were obtained by Lipofectamine® mediated transfection of a GFP plasmid. PGCs were subsequently injected in recipient embryos. Persistence of exogenous PGCs in the developing gonad of recipient embryos confirmed that PGCs retain their gonadal colonisation ability, both after long-term culture and after cryopreservation. [less ▲]

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) can keep their germ cells properties and are foreseen as promising tools for developing avian transgenesis and preservation of genetic resources of endangered species ... [more ▼]

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs) can keep their germ cells properties and are foreseen as promising tools for developing avian transgenesis and preservation of genetic resources of endangered species. We have developed original methods that allow long term (20 month) expansion of primary cultures of undifferentiated PGCs and their efficient cryopreservation. Blood samples were collected from stage 13-18 embryos, pooled, deposited in cell culture inserts and co-cultivated in the presence of irradiated BRL cells. This physically separated co-culture system along with selective culture medium promoted emergence, selection and proliferation of undifferentiated PGCs lines. Overall, 35% of blood samples gave rise to PGCs cell lines originating from three commercial layer breeds and two Belgian endangered breeds. Moreover, we recently isolate and cultivate a new PGC line from turkey. All PGCs lines were first characterised for the expression of the stem cells and PGCs characteristic marker SSEA-1 by FACS. RT-PCR confirmed expression of germ-line specific markers (CVH, CDH, DAZL), pluripotency markers (cPouV, cSox2, cNanog), telomerase and CXCR4 receptor. In addition, by means of a quantitative PCR amplification of a chromosome W specific sequence, we demonstrated a progressive drift of all our lines towards the male sex (WL), while they were initially isolated from pooled blood samples with statistically equivalent numbers of male and female embryos (35 females: 29 males). PGCs were subsequently efficiently cryopreserved by slow freezing or by a newly developed vitrification method. Labelled PGCs from 10 lines were injected in recipient embryos. At day 6, colonization of the genital ridges confirmed that PGCs retain their gonadal migratory ability, both after long-term culture (min 3, max 20 month) and after cryopreservation. In order to evaluate the germinal differentiation of cultured PGCs during the gonadal development as well as the germline transmission rate, we established a stably expressing GFP line that was successfully injected in emrbyos. Results are in progress. [less ▲]

We developed an original method allowing long term culture (up to 20 month) of undifferentiated chicken PGCs, with good proliferation rates. We use a co-culture system: PGCs are cultivated in cell culture ... [more ▼]

We developed an original method allowing long term culture (up to 20 month) of undifferentiated chicken PGCs, with good proliferation rates. We use a co-culture system: PGCs are cultivated in cell culture inserts, in the presence of irradiated Buffalo Rat Liver cells. According to our own experience, physical separation of PGCs and feeder cells limits the differentiation of PGCs. Our PGCs lines keep their original phenotype including their gonadal colonization ability. We also developed a novel cryopreservation method based on vitrification, in complement of a slow rate freezing. [less ▲]

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs), can keep their germ cells properties and are foreseen as promising tools for developing avian transgenesis and preservation of genetic resources of endangered species ... [more ▼]

Avian primordial germ cells (PGCs), can keep their germ cells properties and are foreseen as promising tools for developing avian transgenesis and preservation of genetic resources of endangered species. We have developed original methods that allow long term (20 month) expansion of primary cultures of undifferentiated PGCs and their efficient cryopreservation. Blood samples were collected from stage 13-18 embryos, pooled, deposited in cell culture inserts and co-cultivated in the presence of irradiated BRL cells. This physically separated co-culture system along with selective culture medium promoted emergence, selection and proliferation of undifferentiated PGCs lines. Overall, 35% of blood samples gave rise to PGCs cell lines originating from three commercial layer breeds and two Belgian endangered breeds. PGCs lines were first characterised for the expression of the stem cells and PGCs characteristic marker SSEA-1 by FACS (expression rate: 90-99%). RT-PCR confirmed expression of germ-line specific markers (CVH, CDH, DAZL), pluripotency markers (cPouV, cSox2, cNanog), telomerase and CXCR4 receptor. In addition, by means of a quantitative PCR amplification of a chromosome W specific sequence, we demonstrated a drift of all our lines towards the male sex (WL), while they were initially isolated from pooled blood samples with statistically equivalent numbers of male and female embryos (35 females: 29 males). PGCs were subsequently efficiently cryopreserved by slow freezing or by a newly developed vitrification method. Labelled PGCs from 10 lines were injected in recipient embryos. Colonization of the genital ridges confirmed that PGCs retain their gonadal migratory ability, both after long-term culture (min 3, max 20 month) and after cryopreservation. [less ▲]

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK channels) are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system and underlie the medium afterhyperpolarization following a single or a train ... [more ▼]

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK channels) are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system and underlie the medium afterhyperpolarization following a single or a train of action potentials. It has been shown that they are involved in the regulation of the excitability and the firing pattern of several types of neurons. In vivo, serotonergic (5-HT) neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus usually show a tonic pattern of discharge, but they can also display repetitive burst firing activity, usually involving doublets of closely spaced (< 20 ms) action potentials. It has been shown that burst firing is correlated with an increase in transmitter release and postsynaptic effects (Gartside et al., Neuroscience, 98, 295-300, 2000). We hypothesized that SK channels modulate the firing pattern of 5-HT neurons. In a preliminary study, extracellular single-cell recordings combined with iontophoresis showed that UCL1684, a water soluble SK blocker (200 µM), significantly increased the % of spikes produced in bursts in 60% of presumed serotonergic neurons in the anesthetized rat. We confirm here this observation by demonstrating that UCL1684 significantly increased the production of doublets in 17 out of 25 serotonergic neurons. In order to explore whether a GABAergic input was involved in this effect, additional experiments were performed in the presence of the specific GABAA antagonist SR 95531. In these conditions, 50 % (5 out of 10) of serotonergic neurons showed an increase in the production of doublets when UCL 1684 was applied (p = 0.31 vs control), suggesting that a GABAergic input is not implicated in the regulation of the firing pattern of 5-HT neurons by the SK blocker. Finally, the effect of SK channel blockade was explored in vitro in slices. Bath application of the SK blocker apamin (300 nM) did not induce bursting in 15 out of 18 neurons (p < 0.001 vs in vivo control conditions), although it did increase the coefficient of variation of the interspike intervals.Taken together, our results suggest that SK blockade induces burst firing in a majority of dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons. This effect does not involve GABAergic interneurons, but requires an input that is only present in vivo. [less ▲]

Starting from the scaffold of N-methyllaudanosine and N-methylnoscapine, which are known small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel blockers, original bis-isoquinolinium derivatives were synthezised and ... [more ▼]

Starting from the scaffold of N-methyllaudanosine and N-methylnoscapine, which are known small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel blockers, original bis-isoquinolinium derivatives were synthezised and evaluated using binding studies, electrophysiology, and molecular modeling. These quaternary compounds are powerful blockers, and the most active ones have 10 times more affinity for the channels than dequalinium. The unsubstituted compounds possess a weaker affinity than the analogues having a 6,7-dimethoxy- or a 6,7,8-trimethoxy substitution. The length of the linker has no influence in the alkane derivatives. In relation to the xylene derivatives, the affinities are higher for the ortho and meta isomers. These results are well corroborated by a molecular modeling study. Finally, the most effective compounds have been tested in electrophysiological experiments on midbrain dopaminergic neurons and demonstrate the blocking potential of the apamin-sensitive after-hyperpolarization. [less ▲]